Garden chores, March 29

Published 12:00 am, Saturday, March 29, 2014

Begin treating peach and other fruit trees to prevent pests and disease.

Begin treating peach and other fruit trees to prevent pests and disease.

Photo: Express-News File Photo

Garden chores, March 29

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Good to grow

Spanish dagger

SAN ANTONIO — Long, stiff leaves form a starburst around the trunk of this sturdy evergreen that shrugs off drought and pests.

Plumes of creamy white flowers emerge looking almost like asparagus tips. The flower spike on Spanish dagger stays near the plant rather than rising on a tall stem like many yuccas. Blossoms are edible.

Light: Sun

Size: 5 to 15 feet tall; 5 to 8 feet wide

Water: Low

Bloom: Late winter through spring

Cultivation: Needs good drainage. Adapts to most soils. In areas with heavy clay, plant in a raised bed.

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Implement a weekly spray regiment to protect peaches, plums and apples that are developing on trees. Use Sevin for insects and Captan for fungus. Organic gardeners can try spinosad, neem oil and sulfur products. Read and follow the label instructions for all products.

Weeds are growing faster than grass now. Keep them mowed to prevent seed production. Wait to fertilize the lawn until you have mowed real grass twice.

Live oak leaves make great mulch for vegetable and flower gardens.

Onion varieties 'Candy,' 'Red Candy Apple' and 'Superstar' are good intermediate-day varieties that produce bulbs with 12 to 14 hours of sunlight.